Anti-fascism emerged in Italy in the 1920s as a reaction to the nationalist and totalitarian fascism which was on the march. In France, anti-fascist forces included socialists, nationalists, and monarchists. Anti-fascism is a movement and an ideology that fights fascism, national-socialism, and totalitarianism. Traditionally, anti-fascists have included both right- and left-wingers as well as liberals and people from various different idelogical camps.

Throughout history, different foreign occupiers have tried to alter local values and concepts to serve their own interests. This is true even today. In Finland, a small group of extremists with roots in Stalinism has emerged in the form of a vocal hate group, which calls itself “anti-fascist” in order to mislead the public about its actual aims. The group’s members can most accurately be designated as supporters of totalitarianism.